Washing machine



Sept. 13 1927.

Filed March 16. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet. l

Sept. 13, 1927.

F. L. FURBUSH WASHING MACHINE Filed March 16, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 13, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK L. FURBUSH, OF WESTFORD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO C. G. SARGENTS SONS CORPORATION, OF GRANITEVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

WASHING MACHINE.

Application filed March 16, 1927. Serial No. 175,899.

This invention relates to a machine for washing fibrous material before it is carded and spun although the machine is capable of use for washing other materials.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a washer having an endless conveyor for transferring the fibrous material along the washer to the squeeze rolls, with an intermittently forward and back motion, to make the forward motion greater than the backward motion, so as to advance the material toward the squeeze rolls intermittently, and to agitate the stock by the backward motion while it is in the liquor so as to give it a thorough cleansing while it is being washed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side view of a washing machine constructed in accordance with this invention, showing the delivery end of the machine;

Fig. 1 is a similar View showing the receiving end; and

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1 showing the operating means in elevation.

This washer is constructed in general on principles heretofore known in this art and comprises a tank 10 having sloping bottoms 11 to bring the liquor to the draw-off valves 12. The tank is provided with a screen 13 extending along inside the tank under the level of the liquor to receive the fibrous material, as cotton, wool or the like thereon. This material is fed, as will appear, up an incline to a pair of squeeze rolls 14 and taken out of the machine by a doifer apron 15.

For the purpose of moving the material along the screen 13 toward the squeeze rolls, an endless conveyor 16 is used made up of two series of links mounted on rolls 17 and moved thereby as the rolls rotate. The links of the conveyor are provided at intervals with projecting arms 18 which extend nearly to the screen and will take the material along in the tank.

For the purpose of operating the conveyor, I have a main shaft 20, which is driven in any desired way, on which are two crank wheels 21 and 22. Each of these is provided with a crank as 23 and 24. One of these cranks is farther from the center than the other and this one is connected by ratchet wheel 28 and on the lever 26 is a pawl 29. It will be obvious that as this lever 26 is oscillated by the crank 24, the shaft 27 will have an intermittent rotation and normally move the conveyor along in the tank by an intermittent forward motion.

The other crank 23 is connected by a link 30, having a turn-buckle 31 therein, with a second lever 26 which is connected up with the other ratchet wheel 38 in the same way as the first one described, but designed to operate in the reverse direction to move the conveyor backwardly. The shaft of this roll 28 is mounted in hearings on plates 32 which are adjustable by the turn-buckle 31 for the purpose of tightening up the conveyor chain whenever that is necessary. The bearing plates are held by screws 33.

As the throw of the crank 23 is less than that of the crank 24, it will be obvious that the rearward motion of the conveyor is'less than the forward mot-ion. Also on account of the opposite arrangement of the pawls and ratchet wheels, the rearward motion of course takes place in intervals when the forward moving mechanism is at rest.

It will be seen therefore that, while the motion of the conveyor is a reciprocating one, the forward steps are longer than the backward steps. Consequently the stock is moved forward intermittently and at the same time agitated by the backward motion while it is in the liquor. This opens it more thoroughly and therefore permits the liquor to clean it more effectively and at the same time does not affect the fact that the feed is always forward. The stock is taken up the incline of the screen by the usual toothed carrier 35 and delivered thereby to the press rolls. This carrier is shown as of well known construction and therefore is not illustrated or described in detail;

Although I have illustrated and described only a single form of the invention I am aware of the fact that modifications can be made therein by any person skilled in the Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to all the details of construction herein shown and described, but what I do claim is 1. In a washing machine for fibrous materials, the combination with a tank for the liquor, of a conveyor having arms projecting into the tank, a shaft having two cranks thereon of different lengths, means connected with the longer crank for intermittently moving the conveyor forward in the tank, and means connected with the shorter crank for intermittently moving the conveyor backward during the intervals in which the forward crank is not moving the conveyor.

2. In a washing machine for fibrous materials, the combination with a tank for receiving the liquor, of a conveyor located over the tank and made up of links, some of said links having arms projecting at right angles therefrom down into the tank, a driving shaft having two cranks thereon of different lengths, means connected with the longer crank for intermittently moving the conveyor forward, and means connected with the shorter crank for intermittently moving the conveyor backward shorter distances.

3. In a Washing machine for fibrous materials, the combination with a tank and a screen located therein for supporting the fibre, of an endless conveyor having arms projecting into the tank, a pair of drums on which the conveyor is mounted at its opposite ends, a ratchetwheel connected with each drum, said ratchet wheels being arranged oppositely, a pair of levers, pawls on the levers projecting in opposite directions for engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheels and turning them in opposite directions, and means for oscillating said levers in synchronism but giving one of them a longer stroke than the other, whereby the conveyor is intermittently moved forward and back, the back strokes being shorter than the forward strokes.

4-. In a washing machine for fibrous materials the combination with a tank and a screen located thereon for supporting the fibre, of a conveyor located over the tank having arms projecting down into the tank, a pair of shafts by which the conveyor is supported and operated, a ratchet Wheel fixed on each shaft, said ratchet wheels being, arranged oppositely, a pair of levers pivoted on the axes of said shafts, pawls on the levers projecting in opposite directions for engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheels, and means for oscillating said levers in synchronism but giving one of them a longer stroke than the other.

5. In a washing machine of the character described, the combination with the tank, of an endless conveyor for moving the stock along in the tank, a pair of drums on which said conveyor is mounted, stationary bearings in which one of said drums is mounted, movable bearings for the other drum, a shaft having two crank arms, one of the crank arms being nearer the center than the other, a link connected with each crank arm, a lever connected wit-heach link and provided with means for moving the conveyor in opposite directions, the link extending toward the drum having movable bearings being adjustable for the purpose of tightening the conveyor.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affiXed my signature.

FRANK L. FURBUSH. 

